Atlas Cruises and Tours Travel Blog

Enjoy Japan’s culture, food  & traditional performing arts. Here are some of the things you can experience

Take a moment and simply admire the sheer beauty of Kinkakuji, the Golden Temple, in Kyoto, Japan.  Surrounded by water, rock gardens & manicured trees, its still reflection is certain to make a lasting impression on you.

Experience the traditional values or wabi (elegant stillness,) and sabi (antiquated elegance with calm,) which is essential to Japanese art.  a Tea ceremony is a means of training concentration or spirit and of learning manners. There are a number of school in Japan, each presenting their own style of tea ceremony. The kimono is the traditional dress of Japan. It is common to be asked to remove your shoes before entering a tea ceremony. 

Visit the Kiyomizu Temple, which is famous for its principal sanctuary built on a steep cliff. The Temple was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 1994. The 139 zelkova pillars that support the balcony are over 12 meters tall. It commands a wonderful view of the city of Kyoto. Expect a considerable amount of walking from the parking lot to the temple.

Geisha have to undergo intensive training. Geisha are trained in a number of skills: traditional Japanese dance, singing, playing instruments like shamisen (three stringed instrument), flower arrangement, wearing kimono, Japanese tea ceremony, calligraphy, conversation, alcohol serving manners and more.

Japanese Kaiseki is a traditional, multi-course dinner.  Kaiseki-ryori uses the fresh ingredients of the season and are cooked in ways that enhance the original taste of the ingredients, and include anywhere from 6 to 15 different types of food including soup, vegetables, grilled fish, rice and dessert.

Shabu-Shabu is a popular beef dish in Japan.  It is basically boiling meat in a broth…healthier than using oil at the Melting Pot! Some restaurants offer a Maiko performance during dinner.

Vist our Asia website for a selection of Japan travel packages.

Royal Caribbean International

One Month Sale Has Started! Valid Until July 31st!

• Up to $200 Per Stateroom Bonus Savings + FREE Spa Treatment – Book designated dates between July 1-15, 2009
• FREE Spa Treatment + Dinner for 2 – Book designated dates July 16-31, 2009

Celebrity Cruises

July Onboard Credit Offer:

• $100 onboard credit for ocean view and above staterooms for new bookings made July 1-July 31, 2009 on designated departures.
• Bonus offer: Bookings made in July that sail in July/August/September 2009 will receive a pair of exceptional offer booklets for onboard savings.

Offers valid on select sailings, new bookings only. Hundreds to choose from. Some restrictions apply, please call for details.

Adult guests who purchase a POSH pass for the day or the week, will take a private glass elevator to enter this luxurious and exclusive outdoor entertainment complex styled with Mediterranean flare. During the day, guests can lounge on white-cushioned day beds and in private cabanas and cool off in the 35-foot long cascading waterfall while the POSH VIP Host and crew cater to every whim.

At night, things heat up as POSH Beach Club becomes an open air night club, complete with VIP bottle service, while the DJ sets the vibe for the non-stop party. Four POSH experiences a day are delivered:

• Early Morning (6 to 9 am)– POSH Vive
  Guests awake to yoga classes and body-and-soul treatments in private cabanas as the sun rises and the day starts anew.
• Morning (9 to Noon am) – POSH Rehab
  Guests can relax and recover from a night out with Salty Dogs, Bloody Mary’s, and mimosas combined with chill out tunes.
• Afternoon (Noon to 6 pm) – POSH Sol
  The best nightlife in the daytime with guests lounging on day beds, enjoying funky beach music and spiked POSH snow cones while chilling under a lit waterfall.
• Evening (8 pm to whenever) – Pure POSH
  A pure, sizzling, sexy, nightlife experience where guests enjoy sparkling drinks and bottle service served on silver trays. Look out Vegas, the vibe here is hot — guests can dance all night under the stars or lounge on a POSH bed.

Click here for more posts on the NCL Epic
Visit our Flickr Account for some great pictures of the NCL Epic

With every performance of the Passion Play selling out, the package inclusions can be confusing, particularly the type of accommodations & tickets
that are included.

The Passion Play Theatre has 4,720 total seats. All offer a good view of the stage from all seating categories, and the acoustics in the theatre are excellent, however many clients want to be closer to the stage.

The Tickets:

Tickets for the Passion Play 2010 are only available as part of an official package. The tickets are allocated together with the accommodation by the the tour companies, and Atlas has no control over the exact location of the seats, although we are pleased to announce that our approved tickets are all linked to excellent accommodation in Oberammergau & surrounding villages. 

The better quality hotels come with the better seats for the performance. The plan of the theatre below shows the seating layout & the corresponding ticket categories, so if you want the best tickets, make sure that you are booking a tour that offers Category 1A seating.

Please note, tickets are not given in advance. Your tickets will be issued to you upon arrival in Europe by your tour guide.

2009 US Open Tennis
August 30 - September 14, 2009
Queens, NY

Customize your package for the matches you’d like to attend! All prices are per person, per night (double occupancy), and include tax.

Each Package Will Include:

• Accommodations at the Hilton New York (Two night minimum)
• Upper level tickets for Day or Night Sessions
• Breakfast each morning
• Roundtrip Airport Transfers via Super Shuttle
• Metro Card Day Pass on Tournament Day
• All state and local taxes  

August 30 - Sept 14, 2009 | Accomodations at the Hilton New York Upper level tickets for day or night sessions | Breakfast each morning |
round trip transfers via super shuttle | Metro Card day Pass on
tournament day | all state & local taxes

Opening week prices from $695 pp/per night
Finals week prices from $850 pp/per night

Opened just this year, the Moon Palace Casino, Golf and Spa Resort will bring all-inclusive luxury to the Caribbean. Located in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, this resort will feature thriteen different pools with impressive views of the Caribbean Sea and lagoon, spacious guestrooms complete with private balcony, LCD satellite TV & double jacuzzi, as well as spa and full service casino. To delight your taste buds, the Moon Palace will offer guests the option of twelve different restaurants, plus the convenience of 24-hour room service. Prices include hotel stay, taxes, all meals, drinks and snacks, daily & nightly activities and non-motorized watersports.

Breezes Curacao Resort Spa & Casino is the first Super-Inclusive resort in the Southern Caribbean. The Dutch flavor of this island will add a new twist to the active Breezes vacation our guests have enjoyed for years. Only a 90-minute flight from Montego Bay, this divers paradise is located off the coast of Venezuela and with only 10 miles from the international airport, this beautiful resort, with 341 rooms and suites, is adjacent to both the pristine Undersea National Park and entertaining Sea Aquarium. This Breezes Resort comes to life on the beautiful island of Curacao with it’s own 1500 feet of private white sandy beach and crystal clear waters. Here you’ll enjoy wonderful accommodations, all imaginable water sports, premium brand drinks and a variety of dining options ranging from Japanese cuisine at Munasan to the never-ending Jimmy’s Buffet. Of course, like all Breezes resorts, everything is included in the price and tipping is not allowed.

Breezes Curacao welcomes singles, couples and families with children of all ages.

Ever board your cruise and feel like you have to rush to the spa to make to your favorite specialty restaurants to make reservations? Well Celebrity is making things easier by allowing you to schedule things prior to your cruise.

Celebrity’s goal has always been to deliver a vacation experience offering the most convenience and the greatest value.  Not only can you choose your shore excursions & specialty restaurant reservations in advance, but soon you will be able to pre-reserve spa treatments and pre-purchase beverage packages.

Starting this summer, you’ll be able to visit Celebritycruises.com and view a detailed menu of all the treatments offered by the AquaSpa for your specific sailing - including sample pricing for each. By 2010, you will be able to reserveElemis spa treatments before your cruise even begins.

Starting in late 2009, you’ll be able to go online and choose from a number of different pre-paid beverage packages, including unlimited bottled water, unlimited fountain sodas, unlimited bottled beer and unlimited frozen drinks, as well as assorted wine and mixed-drink packages. So once you set sail, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy a vacation experience that’s all about you.

Royal Caribbean Evolves Culinary Experiences with Al-Fresco Seating, Gourmet Venues and My Time Dining

MIAMI, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Launching in December 2009, Oasis of the Seas will set the stage for Royal Caribbean’s culinary innovations. The world’s most revolutionary cruise ship will offer guests more variety and flexibility than ever before, thanks to 24 distinct dining experiences, ranging from an exclusive signature restaurant, to neighborhood-specific themed venues and new twists on the global brand’s traditions.

“Oasis of the Seas showcases the evolution of Royal Caribbean dining,” said Adam Goldstein, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “Both the new concepts and the established Royal Caribbean offerings found throughout the neighborhoods are designed to meet contemporary dining standards, cater to individual preferences and schedules and foster epicurean curiosity. With so many options, guests could choose a new place to dine for every meal.”

Fleetwide, Royal Caribbean strives to deliver the best dining experience possible by continuously developing innovative programs and upholding the highest culinary standards. As guests expectations continue to rise, the global cruise line introduces new elements of variety and flexibility, such as My Time Dining and My Family Time Dining. In addition, Royal Caribbean trains and certifies all culinary chefs through the American Culinary Federation’s accredited education program and implements U.S. training standards of safe alcohol service.

From breakfast to late night snacks, guest’s onboard Oasis of the Seas can find an extensive variety of food and beverage offerings, available at no extra charge, that will satisfy any craving, providing more options for breakfast, lunch and dinner than Royal Caribbean guests have ever had before. For additional convenience, dinner reservations can be made in advance through new features on www.royalcaribbean.com starting July 7, 2009. Let the culinary festival begin with the following highlights of the food and beverage offerings onboard Oasis of the Seas:

  Central Park

  --  150 Central Park - The most exclusive dining venue on Oasis of the
      Seas, 150 Central Park will provide an intimate dining experience that
      will combine leading-edge cuisine with modern design, creating a
      trendy upscale ambiance.  Signature features will include a tasting
      menu with customized wine pairings. Open for dinner; $35 cover charge.
  --  Giovanni's Table - This Tuscan countryside influenced trattoria will
      be a more-accessible, casual Italian restaurant featuring both indoor
      and al fresco seating. Giovanni's Table will offer rustic dishes with
      a contemporary flair, including toasted herbal breads, pizzas, salads,
      pastas, Italian sandwiches, braised meat dishes and stews, all served
      family-style.  Open for lunch and dinner; $10 lunch and $15 dinner
      cover charge.
  --  Park Cafe - A casual dining choice providing a high level of variety
      and flexibility, Park Cafe will be an indoor/outdoor gourmet market
      with walk-up counters.  From freshly prepared salads and made-to-order
      sandwiches, to paninis, crepes and hearty soups, guests will order
      directly from the chefs behind food stations.  European pastries,
      sublime chocolates and decadent fudge will round out the offerings.
      Open for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.
  --  Vintages - Always a popular hot spot for Royal Caribbean guests on
      Voyager- and Freedom-class ships, the Vintages wine bar will evolve
      into a larger space on Oasis of the Seas.  Great for a pre-dinner
      rendezvous, Vintages will provide a selection of cheeses and a broad
      tapas menu to accompany a robust selection of fine wines, from a
      tropical white Riesling to a mocha-inflected Merlot.  Open for lunch
      and dinner; a la carte pricing.

  --  Chops Grille - Continuing the tradition, Royal Caribbean's popular
      signature steakhouse will offer premium cut, quality meats.  Guests
      can choose to enjoy the upscale, contemporary setting indoors with
      views of Central Park or al fresco.  Open for dinner; $25 cover
      charge.

  Boardwalk

  --  Seafood Shack - The indoor/outdoor casual family restaurant will bring
      the surf style of beach side amusement parks to the Boardwalk, serving
      a variety of seafood, as well an extensive beverage menu of
      non-alcoholic cocktails and over-sized desserts.  Open for lunch and
      dinner; $7.95 lunch and $9.95 dinner cover charge.
  --  Boardwalk Bar - The main bar in the Boardwalk will offer on-the-go
      snacks and a variety of pre-packaged sandwiches, fruit and salads.
      Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  --  Donut Shop - Guests can stop into the classically styled shop for a
      casual snack any time of day.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  --  Ice Cream Parlor - The 1950's styled ice cream venue will display
      classic sundaes and a variety of ice cream flavors and toppings to
      choose from and then mixed-to-order on a frozen slab.  Open throughout
      the day; a la carte pricing.

  --  Johnny Rockets - Extending the signature "eat-ertainment" hours, a
      diner breakfast menu will be introduced.  Open for breakfast, lunch
      and dinner; $3.95 breakfast and $4.95 lunch and dinner cover charge.

  The Royal Promenade

  --  Mondo Cafe - This new addition to the Royal Promenade will feature
      coffee, sandwiches and pastries native to countries such as Italy,
      Spain and Cuba.  Steps from Boleros and open around the clock, it is
      sure to be popular after an evening on the dance floor.  Open for
      breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner and late night treats.
  --  Sorrento's Pizzeria - The New York style pizzeria will feature a more
      extensive menu with made-to-order pizza pies and slices, in addition
      to the ready-made selections introduced with the Freedom-class ships.
      Open for lunch, dinner and late night snacks.

  --  Cafe Promenade - Located on the opposite end of the Royal Promenade
      from the Mondo Cafe, the popular cafe will continue serving Seattle's
      Best Coffee, fruit shakes, pastries and sandwiches throughout the day
      and night.  Open 24 hours; a la carte pricing.

  The Pool and Sports Zone

  --  Solarium Bistro - Located in the Solarium the contemporary bistro will
      offer health-conscious dining for breakfast and lunch in a casual
      setting.  In the evenings, Solarium Bistro will transform into a
      romantic and intimate dining setting for specialty healthy-fare dinner
      and dancing under the stars.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner;
      dinner has a $20 cover charge.

  --  The Wipe Out Cafe - The casual self-service buffet will offer a
      variety of options from pizza, hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh salads
      to quick snacks and desserts, for young cruisers on-the-go.  Open for
      breakfast, lunch and dinner.

  Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center

  --  The Vitality Cafe - Located at the entrance of the Vitality at Sea Spa
      and Fitness Center, the Vitality Cafe will feature healthy snacks,
      sandwiches, wraps and fruit, in addition to refreshing juices and
      smoothies from the Vitality spa menu for the calorie conscious guest.
      Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

  New Twists on Fleet Fixtures

  --  Opus Dining Room - The three-level main dining room will revive the
      grandeur of the 1920s and feature French art deco design.  Catering to
      guests' varying preferences, the newly introduced My Time Dining and
      My Family Time Dining, as well as the traditional main and late
      seating options will be offered.  My Time Dining provides guests with
      the option to enjoy the dining room ambiance with Royal Caribbean's
      renowned Gold Anchor Service whenever they wish during dining hours.
      Guests choosing My Time Dining will not have a pre-assigned table, but
      will be seated in the ships main dining room and will order from the
      same traditional dinner menu. My Time Dining guests can make daily
      reservations for specific seating times or choose to walk in.  My
      Family Time Dining accommodates parents and children by offering an
      expedited 40-minute dining service for young cruisers, ages 3-11.
      Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  --  Windjammer Marketplace - Offering the utmost flexibility for
      breakfast, lunch and dinner, this next generation of the brand staple
      will feature multiple islands, each serving a variety casual buffet
      fare.
  --  Izumi - The new Asian cuisine restaurant will feature a sushi bar and
      hot rock cooking, as well as other Asian fare in a more formal
      setting. Open for lunch and dinner; a la carte pricing.

  --  In-Stateroom Service - Guests wanting to enjoy a meal in the comfort
      of their staterooms will be able to choose from the complimentary
      breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, as well as the recently introduced
      Dine in Delights menu, which offers name-brand culinary options
      ranging from the Original Johnny Rockets hamburger to Ghirardelli
      Chocolate Cookies.  Open 24 hours; a la carte pricing for Dine In
      Delights and $3.95 service charge for in-room deliveries between 12:00
      a.m. and 5:00 a.m.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 20 ships currently in service and two under construction. The line also offers unique cruisetour vacations in Alaska and Canada, Asia, Australia and New Zealand and Europe. For additional information or to make reservations, call 800-942-3301.

Click here for more posts on the Oasis of the Seas
Click here for pictures of the Oasis of the Seas

Free Dining Offer (MYW + Free Dine)

Are you hungry for some fun?

At this affordable price, you can celebrate any magical milestone – with meals and a snack included for every night of your visit! What a delicious way to enjoy your Walt Disney World® Resort vacation!

Offer Details:
A family of four can save $654 when they purchase this 5-night, 6-day Walt Disney Travel Company package for the Walt Disney World Resort, with accommodations for five nights at a select Disney Value Resort and a 6-day Magic Your Way Base Ticket, they’ll get the Disney Dining Plan FREE!

Booking and Travel Window:

• Booking Window: Now – July 26, 2009
• Travel Window: Offer available for stays most nights
  Aug. 22 – Oct. 3, 2009

Pricing:
$1,390* for a family of four, staying in a standard room at a select Disney Value Resort. That’s like paying $58 per person, per day!

Ask about packages for other lengths of stay and accommodations at other select Walt Disney World Resort Hotels.

Booking Information
To book this offer, click on “Quick Way to Book” and select “MYW + FREE DINE” in the “Please Select a Product” drop-down box. When calling, please ask for package code RYH.